Is it time Yet?

 Read Ecclesiastes 3.

The first part of verse 11 in this chapter is the Romans 8:28 of the Old Testament.  "He has made everything beautiful in its time."  That statement and the beautiful song written by Diane Ball have sustained us over the years.
"In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful in His time
Lord, please show me every day
As You're teaching me Your way
And I'll do just what You say
In Your time.

In Your time, in Your time
You make all things beautiful in Your time
Lord, my life to You I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing
In Your time."

The human dilemma is that we want life done by our plan and on our time schedule.
1. Time is sovereignly controlled by God. (vv.1-8)
The seasons and circumstances change but they are cyclic.  The LORD who invented time in Genesis 1, continues to oversee the universe and the flow of individual life.  David wrote in Psalm 31:15, "My times are in your hand."

2. There is a time for everything God wants done. (vv.9-10)
Satisfaction comes from work and the use of time begins with the recognition that this is a gift from God for us to accomplish His will.  Our ability and opportunities to earn come from Him.  "You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth." (Deuteronomy 8:18)

3. Time is temporal. (v.11b)
Life here on earth is only a brief preparation for where and how we will spend eternity.  Every human has an empty place inside.  Blaise Paschal, the brilliant French mathematician and philosopher, envisioned that within the heart of every person is a God-shaped vacuum that only the Lord could fill.

4. Our time here is a test. (v.18)
Too often when life circumstances appear to be against us, we can fall into the emotional trap that God's faithfulness is being tested.  He must come through for us in order to prove Himself.  The opposite is true.  Circumstantial changes and seasons of life are tests of us.  Will we be faithful and trust Him no matter what?  Tests come along, in His timing, to help us to mature in our faith.